Ethnobotanical Survey and Conservation Strategies of Medicinal Plants Used in Masulita Sub-County in Wakiso District.
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Date
2024
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Publisher
Kabale University
Abstract
Introduction:
This study aimed to document the ethnobotanical knowledge concerning medicinal plants used for treating various ailments and the associated practices in the Masulita sub-county, Wakiso district. It also sought to evaluate conservation strategies for these medicinal plants. The global surge in herbal remedy usage has heightened the risk of endangerment for many medicinal plant species. Uganda faces a particularly high risk of medicinal plant extinction due to factors such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, unsustainable harvesting practices, and increased use of herbicides. Furthermore, the shift in demographic composition towards a younger population has accelerated the erosion of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge (TMK), compounded by inadequate documentation efforts. This study focused on documenting the medicinal plants used by the residents of the Masulita sub-county for disease treatment and preserving indigenous knowledge.
Methods:
Sixty respondents were selected using a combination of snowball and purposive sampling methods to gather information on medicinal plant usage and community conservation practices in the Masulita sub-county. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. Medicinal plant specimens were collected with the assistance of herbalists, pressed, and identified at the National Herbarium in Makerere University, Uganda. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, pie charts, percentages, bar graphs, and column graphs were used to present the data.
Results:
A total of 94 medicinal plant species belonging to 39 plant families and 82 genera were documented. The most abundant taxa were Asteraceae (16%, 15 species) and Fabaceae (9%, 8 species). Leaves (53.28%), stem bark (16.39%), and roots (11.48%) were the most commonly used plant parts for preparing medicinal remedies. Decoction (27%) and oral administration (58.6%) were the predominant methods of preparation and administration, respectively. Gastrointestinal diseases (15.66%) were the most frequently treated ailments, and cultivation emerged as the primary conservation strategy. Eleven medicinal plant species were identified as scarce due to herbicide use and overexploitation.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
Masulita sub-county in Wakiso district harbors a diverse array of medicinal plants and possesses rich indigenous knowledge for treating various ailments. However, there has been a notable decline in the population of medicinal plant species due to increased herbicide use and overexploitation. The involvement of local and central government authorities in medicinal plant conservation and associated knowledge has been insufficient. The government of Uganda should implement conservation measures such as conservation programs, awareness campaigns, cultivation initiatives, and educational programs aimed at local residents to enhance medicinal plant conservation efforts. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for ethnobotanical studies across the Wakiso district to preserve traditional medicinal knowledge further.
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Keywords
Ethnobotanical Survey, Conservation Strategies, Medicinal Plants, Masulita Sub-County, Wakiso District
Citation
Musoke, Ronald (2024). Ethnobotanical Survey and Conservation Strategies of Medicinal Plants Used in Masulita Sub-County in Wakiso District. Kabale: Kabale Univerity.